CN114902792A - User equipment to network relay - Google Patents

Abstract

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communications. In some aspects, a remote User Equipment (UE) may communicate with a network entity via a relay UE using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE. The UE may receive, from the network entity via one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE. The UE may configure the side link unicast link based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration. Numerous other aspects are described.

Description

User equipment to network relay

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This patent application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No.62/956,965 entitled "LAYER 2USER equivalent patent-TO-NETWORK RELAY" filed on 3.1.2020 and U.S. non-provisional patent application No.17/135,431 entitled "USER equivalent patent TO NETWORK RELAY" filed on 28.12.2020, so both applications are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communications and techniques and apparatus for user equipment to network relay.

Background

Wireless communication systems have been widely deployed to provide various telecommunication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, and broadcasting. A typical wireless communication system may employ multiple-access techniques that can support communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., bandwidth, transmit power, etc.). Examples of such multiple-access techniques include Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) systems, Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) systems, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) systems, single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) systems, time division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA) systems, and Long Term Evolution (LTE). LTE/LTE-advanced is a set of enhancements to the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mobile standard promulgated by the third generation partnership project (3 GPP).

A wireless communication network may include a plurality of Base Stations (BSs), where a BS is capable of supporting communication for a plurality of User Equipments (UEs). A UE may communicate with a Base Station (BS) via a downlink and an uplink. The downlink (or forward link) refers to the communication link from the BS to the UE, and the uplink (or reverse link) refers to the communication link from the UE to the BS. As described in further detail herein, a BS may be referred to as a node B, gNB, an Access Point (AP), a radio head, a Transmission Reception Point (TRP), a New Radio (NR) BS, a 5G node B, and so on.

The above multiple access techniques have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different user equipments to communicate on a city-wide, country-wide, regional, or even global scale. NR (which may also be referred to as 5G) is an evolved set of LTE mobile standards promulgated by 3 GPP. NR is designed to better support mobile broadband internet access by improving spectral efficiency, reducing cost, improving service, making full use of new spectrum, using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) with a Cyclic Prefix (CP) on the Downlink (DL), using CP-OFDM and/or SC-FDM (also known as discrete fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM), for example) on the Uplink (UL), and supporting beamforming, Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna techniques, and carrier aggregation. However, as the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, there is a need to further improve LTE and NR technologies. Preferably, these improvements should also be applicable to other multiple access techniques and telecommunications standards employing these techniques.

Disclosure of Invention

In some aspects, a method of wireless communication performed by a remote User Equipment (UE) comprises: communicating with a network entity via a relay UE using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE; receiving, from the network entity via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a side-link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE; and configuring the side link unicast link based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a method of wireless communication performed by a relay User Equipment (UE) comprises: establishing a lateral link unicast link with a remote UE using one or more lateral link signaling messages; relaying communications received from the remote UE over a unicast lateral link interface using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a lateral link signaling message; receiving, from a network entity via an RRC message, an access stratum configuration for a unicast lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE; and modifying the side link unicast link between the UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a method of wireless communication performed by a network entity includes: communicating with a remote User Equipment (UE) via a relay UE using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a dedicated lateral link signaling message for the relay UE, wherein the one or more RRC messages comprise an access stratum configuration for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers between the relay UE and the remote UE; and receive communications from the remote UE via the relay UE based at least in part on the access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a remote User Equipment (UE) for wireless communication includes a memory, one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory, the memory and the one or more processors configured to: communicating with a network entity via a relay UE using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE; receiving, from the network entity via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a side-link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE; and configuring the side link unicast link based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a relay User Equipment (UE) for wireless communication includes a memory, one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory, the memory and the one or more processors configured to: establishing a lateral link unicast link with a remote UE using one or more lateral link signaling messages; relaying communications received from the remote UE over a unicast lateral link interface using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a lateral link signaling message; receiving, from a network entity via an RRC message, an access stratum configuration for a unicast lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE; and modifying the side link unicast link between the UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a network entity for wireless communication includes a memory, one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory, the memory and the one or more processors configured to: communicating with a remote User Equipment (UE) via a relay UE using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a dedicated lateral link signaling message for the relay UE, wherein the one or more RRC messages comprise an access stratum configuration for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers between the relay UE and the remote UE; and receive communications from the remote UE via the relay UE based at least in part on the access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions for wireless communication includes one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a remote User Equipment (UE), cause the UE to: communicating with a network entity via a relay UE using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE; receiving, from the network entity via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a side-link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE; and configuring the side link unicast link based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions for wireless communication includes one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a relay User Equipment (UE), cause the UE to: establishing a lateral link unicast link with a remote UE using one or more lateral link signaling messages; relaying communications received from the remote UE over a unicast lateral link interface using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in lateral link signaling messages; receiving, from a network entity via an RRC message, an access stratum configuration for a unicast lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE; and modifying the side link unicast link between the UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions for wireless communication includes one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a network entity, cause the network entity to: communicating with a remote User Equipment (UE) via a relay UE using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a dedicated lateral link signaling message for the relay UE, wherein the one or more RRC messages comprise an access stratum configuration for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers between the relay UE and the remote UE; and receive communications from the remote UE via the relay UE based at least in part on the access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication comprises: means for communicating with a network entity via a relay UE using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE; means for receiving, from the network entity via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a side-link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE; and means for configuring the side link unicast link based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication comprises: means for establishing a side link unicast link with a remote UE using one or more side link signaling messages; means for relaying communications received from the remote UE over a unicast lateral link interface using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in lateral link signaling messages; means for receiving, from a network entity via an RRC message, an access stratum configuration for a unicast lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE; and means for modifying the lateral link unicast link between the UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication comprises: means for communicating with a remote User Equipment (UE) via a relay UE using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a dedicated lateral link signaling message for the relay UE, wherein the one or more RRC messages comprise an access stratum configuration for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers between the relay UE and the remote UE; and means for receiving communications from the remote UE via the relay UE based at least in part on the access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a method of wireless communication performed by a remote UE may include: transmitting a broadcast message for a relay UE via a lateral link interface, wherein the broadcast message includes information associated with establishing a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection between the remote UE and a base station for communicating via the relay UE; receiving, via the relay UE from the base station, an access stratum configuration for the lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the information associated with establishing the RRC connection; configuring one or more lateral link interface radio bearers according to the access stratum configuration; and communicate with the base station via the relay UE using the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers.

In some aspects, a method of wireless communication performed by a remote UE may include: establishing a lateral-link unicast link with a relay UE using one or more lateral-link signaling messages, wherein security of the lateral-link unicast link is configured as part of a lateral-link unicast link establishment procedure for the lateral-link unicast link; communicating with a base station via the relay UE over the sidelink unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink interface signaling protocol message for the relay UE; receiving, from the base station via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for the side-link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE; and configure a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a method of wireless communication performed by a remote UE may include: communicating with a base station via a relay UE using one or more RRC messages, the one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE without sidelink interface security protection; receiving, from the base station via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a side link unicast link between the remote UE and a relay UE; and configure the sidelink interface based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a method of wireless communication performed by a remote UE may include: establishing a lateral link unicast link with a relay UE using one or more lateral link signaling messages, wherein security and access stratum configurations for the lateral link unicast link are configured as part of a lateral link unicast link establishment procedure for the relay UE; communicating with a base station via the relay UE over a sidelink unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink signaling message; receiving the access stratum configuration for the side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE from the base station via the one or more RRC messages; and modifying the side-link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a method of wireless communication performed by a relay UE may include: receiving a broadcast message from a remote UE for the relay UE via a lateral link interface, wherein the broadcast message includes information associated with establishing an RRC connection between the remote UE and a base station for communicating with the remote UE via the relay UE; configuring a security context for the remote UE according to the broadcast message; receiving, from the base station, an access stratum configuration for the lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the information associated with establishing the RRC connection; configuring one or more lateral link interface radio bearers according to the access stratum configuration; and provide communications to the base station received from the remote UE using the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers.

In some aspects, a method of wireless communication performed by a relay UE may include: establishing a lateral-link unicast link with a remote UE using one or more lateral-link signaling messages, wherein security of the lateral-link unicast link is configured as part of a lateral-link unicast link establishment procedure for the lateral-link unicast link; relaying communications from the remote UE to a base station, wherein the communications are received over the sidelink unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink interface signaling protocol message for the relay UE; receiving, from the base station via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for the side-link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE; and configure a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a method of wireless communication performed by a relay UE may include: relaying communications from a remote UE to a base station, wherein the communications include one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE without sidelink interface security protection; receiving, from a base station via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and a relay UE; and configure the sidelink interface based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a method of wireless communication performed by a relay UE may include: establishing a lateral link unicast link with a remote UE using one or more lateral link signaling messages; relaying communications received from the remote UE over the unicast sidelink interface using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in sidelink signaling messages; receiving, from a base station via an RRC message, an access stratum configuration for a unicast lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE; and modifying the side link unicast link between the UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a method of wireless communication performed by a base station may comprise: sending, via a relay UE, a configuration for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers between the relay UE and a remote UE; and receive communications from the remote UE via the relay UE based at least in part on the configuration.

In some aspects, a remote UE for wireless communication may include a memory and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory. The memory and the one or more processors may be configured to: transmitting a broadcast message for a relay UE via a sidelink interface, wherein the broadcast message includes information associated with establishing an RRC connection between the remote UE and a base station for communicating via the relay UE; receiving, via the relay UE from the base station, an access stratum configuration for the lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the information associated with establishing the RRC connection; configuring one or more lateral link interface radio bearers according to the access stratum configuration; and communicate with the base station via the relay UE using the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers.

In some aspects, a remote UE for wireless communication may include a memory and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory. The memory and the one or more processors may be configured to: establishing a lateral-link unicast link with a relay UE using one or more lateral-link signaling messages, wherein security of the lateral-link unicast link is configured as part of a lateral-link unicast link establishment procedure for the lateral-link unicast link; communicating with a base station via the relay UE over the sidelink unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink interface signaling protocol message for the relay UE; receiving, from the base station via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for the side-link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE; and configure a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a remote UE for wireless communication may include a memory and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory. The memory and the one or more processors may be configured to: communicating with a base station via a relay UE using one or more RRC messages, the one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE without sidelink interface security protection; receiving, from the base station via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a side link unicast link between the remote UE and a relay UE; and configure the sidelink interface based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a remote UE for wireless communication may include a memory and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory. The memory and the one or more processors may be configured to: establishing a lateral link unicast link with a relay UE using one or more lateral link signaling messages, wherein security and access stratum configurations for the lateral link unicast link are configured as part of a lateral link unicast link establishment procedure for the relay UE; communicating with a base station via the relay UE over a sidelink unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink signaling message; receiving the access stratum configuration for the side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE from the base station via the one or more RRC messages; and modifying the side-link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a relay UE for wireless communication may include a memory and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory. The memory and the one or more processors may be configured to: receiving a broadcast message from a remote UE for the relay UE via a lateral link interface, wherein the broadcast message includes information associated with establishing an RRC connection between the remote UE and a base station for communicating with the remote UE via the relay UE; configuring a security context for the remote UE according to the broadcast message; receiving, from the base station, an access stratum configuration for the lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the information associated with establishing the RRC connection; configuring one or more lateral link interface radio bearers according to the access stratum configuration; and provide communications to the base station received from the remote UE using the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers.

In some aspects, a relay UE for wireless communication may include a memory and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory. The memory and the one or more processors may be configured to: establishing a lateral-link unicast link with a remote UE using one or more lateral-link signaling messages, wherein security of the lateral-link unicast link is configured as part of a lateral-link unicast link establishment procedure for the lateral-link unicast link; relaying communications from the remote UE to a base station, wherein the communications are received over the sidelink unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink interface signaling protocol message for the relay UE; receiving, from the base station via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for the side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE; and configure a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a relay UE for wireless communication may include a memory and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory. The memory and the one or more processors may be configured to: relaying communications from a remote UE to a base station, wherein the communications include one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE without sidelink interface security protection; receiving, from a base station via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and a relay UE; and configure the sidelink interface based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a relay UE for wireless communication may include a memory and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory. The memory and the one or more processors may be configured to: establishing a lateral link unicast link with a remote UE using one or more lateral link signaling messages; relaying communications received from the remote UE over the unicast sidelink interface using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in sidelink signaling messages; receiving, from a base station via an RRC message, an access stratum configuration for a unicast lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE; and modifying the side link unicast link between the UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a base station for wireless communication may include a memory and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory. The memory and the one or more processors may be configured to: sending, via a relay UE, a configuration for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers between the relay UE and a remote UE; and receive communications from the remote UE via the relay UE based at least in part on the configuration.

In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may store one or more instructions for wireless communication. The one or more instructions, when executed by the one or more processors of the remote UE, may cause the one or more processors to: transmitting a broadcast message for a relay UE via a sidelink interface, wherein the broadcast message includes information associated with establishing an RRC connection between the remote UE and a base station for communicating via the relay UE; receiving, via the relay UE from the base station, an access stratum configuration for the lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the information associated with establishing the RRC connection; configuring one or more lateral link interface radio bearers according to the access stratum configuration; and communicate with the base station via the relay UE using the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers.

In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may store one or more instructions for wireless communication. The one or more instructions, when executed by the one or more processors of the remote UE, may cause the one or more processors to: establishing a lateral-link unicast link with a relay UE using one or more lateral-link signaling messages, wherein security of the lateral-link unicast link is configured as part of a lateral-link unicast link establishment procedure for the lateral-link unicast link; communicating with a base station via the relay UE over the sidelink unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink interface signaling protocol message for the relay UE; receiving, from the base station via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for the side-link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE; and configure a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may store one or more instructions for wireless communication. The one or more instructions, when executed by the one or more processors of the remote UE, may cause the one or more processors to: communicating with a base station via a relay UE using one or more RRC messages, the one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE without sidelink interface security protection; receiving, from the base station via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a side link unicast link between the remote UE and a relay UE; and configure the sidelink interface based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may store one or more instructions for wireless communication. The one or more instructions, when executed by the one or more processors of the remote UE, may cause the one or more processors to: establishing a lateral link unicast link with a relay UE using one or more lateral link signaling messages, wherein security and access stratum configurations for the lateral link unicast link are configured as part of a lateral link unicast link establishment procedure for the relay UE; communicating with a base station via the relay UE over a sidelink unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink signaling message; receiving the access stratum configuration for the side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE from the base station via the one or more RRC messages; and modifying the side-link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may store one or more instructions for wireless communication. The one or more instructions, when executed by the one or more processors of the relay UE, may cause the one or more processors to: receiving a broadcast message from a remote UE for the relay UE via a lateral link interface, wherein the broadcast message includes information associated with establishing an RRC connection between the remote UE and a base station for communicating with the remote UE via the relay UE; configuring a security context for the remote UE according to the broadcast message; receiving, from the base station, an access stratum configuration for the lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the information associated with establishing the RRC connection; configuring one or more lateral link interface radio bearers according to the access stratum configuration; and provide communications to the base station received from the remote UE using the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers.

In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may store one or more instructions for wireless communication. The one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors of the relay UE, may cause the one or more processors to: establishing a lateral-link unicast link with a remote UE using one or more lateral-link signaling messages, wherein security of the lateral-link unicast link is configured as part of a lateral-link unicast link establishment procedure for the lateral-link unicast link; relaying communications from the remote UE to a base station, wherein the communications are received over the lateral link unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in lateral link interface signaling protocol messages for the relay UE; receiving, from the base station via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for the side-link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE; and configure a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may store one or more instructions for wireless communication. The one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors of the relay UE, may cause the one or more processors to: relaying communications from a remote UE to a base station, wherein the communications include one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE without sidelink interface security protection; receiving, from a base station via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and a relay UE; and configure the sidelink interface based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may store one or more instructions for wireless communication. The one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors of the relay UE, may cause the one or more processors to: establishing a lateral link unicast link with a remote UE using one or more lateral link signaling messages; relaying communications received from the remote UE over the unicast sidelink interface using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in sidelink signaling messages; receiving, from a base station via an RRC message, an access stratum configuration for a unicast lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE; and modifying the side link unicast link between the UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may store one or more instructions for wireless communication. The one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors of a base station, may cause the one or more processors to: sending, via a relay UE, a configuration for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers between the relay UE and a remote UE; and receive communications from the remote UE via the relay UE based at least in part on the configuration.

In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication may comprise: means for transmitting a broadcast message for a relay UE via a sidelink interface, wherein the broadcast message comprises information associated with establishing an RRC connection between the apparatus and a base station for communicating via the relay UE; means for receiving, via the relay UE, an access stratum configuration for the lateral link interface between the apparatus and the relay UE from the base station based at least in part on the information associated with establishing the RRC connection; means for configuring one or more lateral link interface radio bearers according to the access stratum configuration; means for communicating with the base station via the relay UE using the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers.

In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication may comprise: means for establishing a lateral-link unicast link with a relay UE using one or more lateral-link signaling messages, wherein security of the lateral-link unicast link is configured as part of a lateral-link unicast link establishment procedure for the lateral-link unicast link; means for communicating with a base station via the relay UE over the sidelink unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink interface signaling protocol message for the relay UE; means for receiving, from the base station via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for the lateral link unicast link between the apparatus and the relay UE; and means for configuring a side link unicast link between the apparatus and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication may comprise: means for communicating with a base station via a relay UE using one or more RRC messages, the one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a dedicated lateral link signaling message for the relay UE that is not secured over a lateral link interface between the relay UE and the apparatus; means for receiving, from the base station via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a lateral link unicast link between the apparatus and a relay UE; and means for configuring the sidelink interface based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication may comprise: means for establishing a lateral-link unicast link with a relay UE using one or more lateral-link signaling messages, wherein security and access layer configuration for the lateral-link unicast link is configured as part of a lateral-link unicast link establishment procedure for the relay UE; means for communicating with a base station via the relay UE on a sidelink unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink signaling message; means for receiving the access stratum configuration for the side link unicast link between the apparatus and the relay UE from the base station via the one or more RRC messages; and means for modifying the lateral link unicast link between the apparatus and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication may comprise: means for receiving a broadcast message from a remote UE for the apparatus via a lateral link interface, wherein the broadcast message includes information associated with establishing an RRC connection between the remote UE and a base station for communicating with the remote UE via the apparatus; means for configuring a security context for the remote UE according to the broadcast message; means for receiving, from the base station, an access stratum configuration for the lateral link interface between the remote UE and the apparatus based at least in part on the information associated with establishing the RRC connection; means for configuring one or more lateral link interface radio bearers according to the access stratum configuration; and means for providing communications received from the remote UE to the base station using the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers.

In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication may comprise: means for establishing a lateral-link unicast link with a remote UE using one or more lateral-link signaling messages, wherein security of the lateral-link unicast link is configured as part of a lateral-link unicast link establishment procedure for the lateral-link unicast link; means for relaying communications from the remote UE to a base station, wherein the communications are received over the lateral link unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a lateral link interface signaling protocol message for the apparatus; means for receiving, from the base station via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for the side-link unicast link between the remote UE and the apparatus; and means for configuring a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the apparatus based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication may comprise: means for relaying communications from a remote UE to a base station, wherein the communications include one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the apparatus that is not secured over a sidelink interface between the apparatus and the remote UE; means for receiving, from a base station via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a side-link unicast link between the remote UE and the apparatus; and means for configuring the sidelink interface based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication may comprise: means for establishing a side-link unicast link with a remote UE using one or more side-link signaling messages; means for relaying communications received from a remote UE over a unicast sidelink interface using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink signaling message; means for receiving, from a base station via an RRC message, an access stratum configuration for a unicast lateral link interface between the remote UE and the apparatus; and means for modifying the lateral link unicast link between the UE and the apparatus based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication may comprise: means for transmitting, via a relay UE, a configuration for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers between the relay UE and a remote UE; means for receiving a communication from the remote UE via the relay UE based at least in part on the configuration.

Aspects herein generally include methods, apparatuses, systems, computer program products, non-transitory computer-readable media, user equipment, base stations, wireless communication devices, and/or processing systems as substantially described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying figures.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of examples according to the present disclosure in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages will be described hereinafter. The conception and specific examples disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. Such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the appended claims. The features of the concepts disclosed herein (both as to their organization and method of operation), together with the associated advantages, will be better understood from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. Each of these figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.

Drawings

In order that the above-described features of the present disclosure may be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure briefly described above will be rendered by reference to certain aspects that are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only certain typical aspects of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective aspects. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication network in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a base station communicating with a UE in a wireless communication network, in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example control plane protocol architecture for a UE-to-network relay that is not configured with a sidelink signaling entity or a sidelink access layer entity, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example user plane protocol architecture for a UE-to-network relay that is not configured with a lateral link signaling entity or a lateral link access stratum entity, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example control plane protocol architecture for a UE configured with a sidelink signaling entity, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example control plane protocol architecture for a UE configured with a lateral link signaling entity and a lateral link access stratum entity, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating example signaling for UE-to-network relay for a remote UE that is not configured with a sidelink signaling entity or a sidelink access stratum entity, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating example signaling for UE-to-network relay for a remote UE configured with a sidelink signaling entity, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating another example signaling for UE-to-network relay for a remote UE configured with a sidelink signaling entity, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating example signaling for UE-to-network relay for a remote UE configured with a lateral link signaling entity and a lateral link access layer entity, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 11-18 are diagrams illustrating exemplary processing performed, for example, by a user device, in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

Fig. 19 is a diagram illustrating exemplary processing, e.g., performed by a base station, in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

Fig. 20-21 are diagrams illustrating exemplary processing, e.g., performed by a user device, in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

Fig. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example process performed, for example, by a base station, in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure.

Detailed Description

Various aspects of the disclosure are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to any specific structure or function presented throughout this disclosure. Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Based on the disclosure herein, one of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein, whether implemented independently or combined with any other aspect of the disclosure. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be implemented using any number of the aspects set forth herein. Moreover, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover such apparatus or methods, which may be implemented by using other structure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to or other than the various aspects of the present disclosure as set forth herein. It should be understood that any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein may be embodied by one or more components of the present invention.

Some aspects of telecommunications systems are now presented with reference to various apparatus and techniques. These devices and techniques are described in the following detailed description and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings by various blocks, modules, components, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, and so forth (which are collectively referred to as "elements"). These elements may be implemented using hardware, software, or any combination thereof. Whether such elements are implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

It should be noted that although the aspects herein are described using terms commonly associated with 5G or NR Radio Access Technologies (RATs), aspects of the disclosure may also be applied to other RATs (e.g., 3G RATs, 4G RATs, and/or RATs after 5G (e.g., 6G)).

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a wireless network 100 in which aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented. The wireless network 100 may be an LTE network or some other wireless network (e.g., a 5G or NR network). Wireless network 100 may include a plurality of BSs 110 (shown as BS110 a, BS110 b, BS110c, and BS110 d) and other network entities. A BS is an entity that communicates with User Equipment (UE), and may also be referred to as a base station, NR BS, node B, gNB, 5G node b (nb), access point, Transmission Reception Point (TRP), and so on. Each BS may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area. In 3GPP, the term "cell" can refer to a coverage area of a BS and/or a BS subsystem serving the coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used.

A BS may provide communication coverage for a macrocell, a picocell, a femtocell, and/or another type of cell. A macro cell may cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by UEs with service subscriptions. A pico cell may cover a relatively small geographic area that allows unrestricted access by UEs with service subscriptions. A femto cell may cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a home) that allows restricted access by UEs having an association with the femto cell (e.g., UEs in a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG)). The BS for the macro cell may be referred to as a macro BS. The BS for the pico cell may be referred to as a pico BS. The BS for the femto cell may be referred to as a femto BS or a home BS. In the example shown in fig. 1, BS110 a may be a macro BS for macro cell 102a, BS110 b may be a pico BS for pico cell 102b, and BS110c may be a femto BS for femto cell 102 c. A BS may support one or more (e.g., three) cells. The terms "eNB", "base station", "NR BS", "gNB", "TRP", "AP", "node B", "5G NB" and "cell" may be used interchangeably.

In some aspects, the cell need not be stationary, and the geographic area of the cell may move according to the location of the mobile BS. In some aspects, the BSs may be interconnected to each other and/or to one or more other BSs or network nodes (not shown) in wireless network 100 through various types of backhaul interfaces (e.g., direct physical connections, virtual networks, etc.) using any suitable transport network.

Wireless network 100 may also include relay stations. A relay station is an entity that can receive a transmission of data from an upstream station (e.g., a BS or a UE) and send the transmission of the data to a downstream station (e.g., the UE or the BS). A relay station may also be a UE that can relay transmissions of other UEs. In the example shown in fig. 1, relay station 110d may communicate with macro BS110 a and UE 120d to facilitate communication between BS110 a and UE 120 d. The relay station may also be referred to as a relay BS, a relay base station, a relay, and the like.

The wireless network 100 may be a heterogeneous network including different types of BSs (e.g., macro BSs, pico BSs, femto BSs, relay BSs, etc.). These different types of BSs may have different transmit power levels, different coverage areas, and different effects on interference in wireless network 100. For example, the macro BS may have a higher transmit power level (e.g., 5 to 40 watts), while the pico BS, femto BS, and relay BS may have a lower transmit power level (e.g., 0.1 to 2 watts).

Network controller 130 may couple to a set of BSs and provide coordination and control for these BSs. The network controller 130 may communicate with the BSs via a backhaul. The BSs may also communicate directly with each other or indirectly via a wireless or wired backhaul.

UEs 120 (e.g., 120a, 120b, 120c) may be dispersed throughout wireless network 100, and each UE may be stationary or mobile. A UE may also be called an access terminal, mobile station, subscriber unit, station, or the like. The UE may be a cellular telephone (e.g., a smartphone), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a tablet device, a camera, a gaming device, a netbook, smartbooks, ultrabooks, medical devices or equipment, biosensors/devices, wearable devices (smartwatches, smartgarments, smart glasses, smart wristbands, smart jewelry (e.g., smart rings, smart bracelets)), entertainment devices (e.g., music or video devices, or satellite radios), in-vehicle components or sensors, smart meters/sensors, industrial manufacturing devices, global positioning system devices, or any other suitable device configured to communicate via a wireless medium or a wired medium.

Some UEs may be considered Machine Type Communication (MTC) UEs or evolved or enhanced machine type communication (eMTC) UEs. For example, MTC and eMTC UEs include robots, drones, remote devices, sensors, meters, monitors, location tags, and so forth that may communicate with a base station, another device (e.g., a remote device), or some other entity. For example, the wireless node may provide a connection, e.g., to or to a network (e.g., a wide area network such as the internet or a cellular network) via a wired or wireless communication link. Some UEs may be considered internet of things (IoT) devices and/or may be implemented as NB-IoT (narrowband internet of things) devices. Some UEs may be considered Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). UE 120 may be included in a housing that houses components of UE 120 (e.g., a processor component, a memory component, etc.).

In general, any number of wireless networks may be deployed in a given geographic area. Each wireless network may support a particular Radio Access Technology (RAT) and may operate on one or more frequencies. A RAT may also be referred to as a radio technology, air interface, etc. Frequencies may also be referred to as carriers, frequency channels, and so on. Each frequency may support a single RAT in a given geographic area in order to avoid interference between wireless networks of different RATs. In some cases, NR or 5G RAT networks may be deployed.

In some aspects, two or more UEs 120 (e.g., shown as UE 120a and UE 120e) may communicate directly (e.g., without using base station 110 as an intermediary to communicate with each other) using one or more sidelink channels. For example, the UE 120 may communicate using peer-to-peer (P2P) communication, device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) protocol (e.g., which may include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) protocol, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) protocol, etc.), mesh networks, and so forth. In this case, UE 120 may perform scheduling operations, resource selection operations, and/or other operations described elsewhere herein, performed by base station 110.

Devices of wireless network 100 may communicate using the electromagnetic spectrum, which may be subdivided into various classes, bands, channels, etc., based on frequency or wavelength. For example, devices of wireless network 100 may communicate using an operating frequency band having a first frequency range (FR1) (where FR1 may span from 410MHz to 7.125GHz), and/or may communicate using an operating frequency band having a second frequency range (FR2) (where FR2 may span from 24.25GHz to 52.6 GHz). Frequencies between FR1 and FR2 are commonly referred to as mid-band frequencies. Although a portion of FR1 is greater than 6GHz, FR1 is often referred to as the "sub-6 GHz" band. Similarly, FR2 is commonly referred to as the "millimeter wave" frequency band, although it is distinct from the Extremely High Frequency (EHF) band (30 GHz-300 GHz) which the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) recognizes as the "millimeter wave" frequency band. Accordingly, unless expressly stated otherwise, it is to be understood that the terms "sub-6 GHz," and the like (if used herein) may broadly refer to frequencies less than 6GHz, frequencies within FR1, and/or mid-band frequencies (e.g., greater than 7.125 GHz). Similarly, unless explicitly stated otherwise, it should be understood that the terms "millimeter wave" and the like (if used herein) may broadly refer to frequencies within the EHF frequency band, frequencies within FR2, and/or mid-band frequencies (e.g., less than 24.25 GHz). The frequencies included in FR1 and FR2 may be modified, and the techniques described herein may be applied to these modified frequency ranges.

As indicated above, fig. 1 is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from the example described with reference to fig. 1.

Fig. 2 shows a block diagram 200 of a design 200 of base station 110 and UE 120, where base station 110 and UE 120 may be one of the base stations in fig. 1 and one of the UEs in fig. 1. The base station 110 may be equipped with T antennas 234a through 234T and the UE 120 may be equipped with R antennas 252a through 252R, where T ≧ 1 and R ≧ 1.

At base station 110, a transmit processor 220 may receive data for one or more UEs from a data source 212, select one or more Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCSs) for each UE based at least in part on a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) received from the UE, process (e.g., encode and modulate) the data for each UE based at least in part on the selected MCS for the UE, and provide data symbols for all UEs. Transmit processor 220 may also process system information (e.g., for semi-Static Resource Partitioning Information (SRPI), etc.) and control information (e.g., CQI requests, grants, upper layer signaling, etc.) and provide overhead symbols and control symbols. Transmit processor 220 may also generate reference symbols for reference signals (e.g., cell-specific reference signals (CRS)) and synchronization signals (e.g., Primary Synchronization Signals (PSS) and Secondary Synchronization Signals (SSS)). A Transmit (TX) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processor 230 may perform spatial processing (e.g., precoding) on the data symbols, the control symbols, the overhead symbols, and/or the reference symbols, if applicable, and may provide T output symbol streams to T Modulators (MODs) 232a through 232T. Each modulator 232 may process a respective output symbol stream (e.g., for OFDM, etc.) to obtain an output sample stream. Each modulator 232 may further process (e.g., convert to analog, amplify, filter, and upconvert) the output sample stream to obtain a downlink signal. T downlink signals from modulators 232a through 232T may be transmitted via T antennas 234a through 234T, respectively. According to various aspects described in further detail below, position coding may be utilized to generate synchronization signals to convey other information.

At UE 120, antennas 252a through 252r may receive downlink signals from base station 110 and/or other base stations and may provide received signals to demodulators (DEMODs) 254a through 254 r. Each demodulator 254 may condition (e.g., filter, amplify, downconvert, and digitize) a respective received signal to obtain input samples. Each demodulator 254 may further process the input samples (e.g., for OFDM, etc.) to obtain received symbols. A MIMO detector 256 may obtain received symbols from all R demodulators 254a through 254R, perform MIMO detection on the received symbols (if any), and provide detected symbols. A receive processor 258 may process (e.g., demodulate and decode) the detected symbols, provide decoded data for UE 120 to a data sink 260, and provide decoded control information and system information to a controller/processor 280. The channel processor may determine Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), Channel Quality Indicator (CQI), and so on. In some aspects, one or more components of UE 120 may be included in a housing.

On the uplink, at UE 120, a transmit processor 264 may receive data from a data source 262, receive control information (e.g., for reporting including RSRP, RSSI, RSRQ, CQI, etc.) from a controller/processor 280, and process the data and control information. Transmit processor 264 may also generate reference symbols for one or more reference signals. The symbols from transmit processor 264 may be precoded by a TX MIMO processor 266 if applicable, further processed by modulators 254a through 254r (e.g., for DFT-s-OFDM, CP-OFDM, etc.), and transmitted to base station 110. At base station 110, the uplink signals from UE 120 and other UEs may be received by antennas 234, processed by demodulators 232, detected by a MIMO detector 236 (if any), and further processed by a receive processor 238 to obtain the decoded data and control information sent by UE 120. Receive processor 238 may provide decoded data to a data sink 239 and decoded control information to controller/processor 240. The base station 110 may include a communication unit 244 and communicate to the network controller 130 via the communication unit 244. Network controller 130 may include a communication unit 294, a controller/processor 290, and a memory 292.

Controller/processor 240 of base station 110, controller/processor 280 of UE 120, and/or any other component of fig. 2 may perform one or more techniques associated with a user equipment control plane configuration and a lateral link interface for user equipment to network relay, as described in further detail elsewhere herein. For example, controller/processor 240 of base station 110, controller/processor 280 of UE 120, and/or any other component of fig. 2 may perform or direct operations of, for example, respective processes 1100 through 1900 of fig. 11-19, and/or other processes as described herein. Memories 242 and 282 may store data and program codes for base station 110 and UE 120, respectively. In some aspects, memory 242 and/or memory 282 may comprise non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more instructions for wireless communication. For example, the one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors of base station 110 and/or UE 120, may perform or direct the operations of, for example, respective processes 1100 through 1900 of fig. 11-19, and/or other processes described herein. A scheduler 246 may schedule data transmission for UEs on the downlink and/or uplink.

In some aspects, UE 120 (e.g., remote UE) may include: means for transmitting a broadcast message for a relay UE via a sidelink interface, wherein the broadcast message includes information associated with establishing an RRC connection between the remote UE and a base station for communicating via the relay UE; means for receiving, via the relay UE, an access stratum configuration for a lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE from a base station based at least in part on information associated with establishing the RRC connection; means for configuring one or more lateral link interface radio bearers according to an access stratum configuration; means for communicating with a base station via a relay UE using the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers; means for establishing a lateral-link unicast link with a relay UE using one or more lateral-link signaling messages, wherein security of the lateral-link unicast link is configured as part of a lateral-link unicast link establishment procedure for the lateral-link unicast link; means for communicating with a base station via a relay UE on a lateral link unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a lateral link interface signaling protocol message for the relay UE; means for receiving, from a base station via one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and a relay UE; means for configuring a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration; means for communicating with a base station via a relay UE using one or more RRC messages, the one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE without sidelink interface security protection; means for receiving, from a base station via one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and a relay UE; means for configuring a lateral link interface based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration; means for establishing a lateral-link unicast link with the relay UE using one or more lateral-link signaling messages, wherein security and access stratum configuration for the lateral-link unicast link is configured as part of a lateral-link unicast link establishment procedure for the relay UE; means for communicating with a base station via a relay UE on a sidelink unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink signaling message; means for receiving, from a base station via one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and a relay UE; means for modifying a lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration; means for communicating with a network entity via a relay UE using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE; means for receiving, from a network entity via one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and a relay UE; means for configuring a side link unicast link based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration; means for establishing a side-link unicast link with a remote UE using one or more side-link signaling messages; means for relaying communications received from a remote UE over a unicast sidelink interface using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in sidelink signaling messages; means for receiving, from a network entity via an RRC message, an access stratum configuration for a unicast lateral link interface between a remote UE and a relay UE; means for modifying a lateral link unicast link between the UE and a relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration; and so on. In some aspects, the means may include one or more components of UE 120 described in connection with fig. 2, e.g., controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, DEMOD254, MIMO detector 256, receive processor 258, and/or the like.

In some aspects, UE 120 (e.g., a relay UE for a remote UE) may include: means for receiving a broadcast message from a remote UE for the relay UE via a sidelink interface, wherein the broadcast message includes information associated with establishing an RRC connection between the remote UE and a base station for communicating with the remote UE via the relay UE; means for configuring a security context for a remote UE based on the broadcast message; means for receiving, from a base station, an access stratum configuration for a lateral link interface between a remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on information associated with establishing the RRC connection; means for configuring one or more lateral link interface radio bearers according to an access stratum configuration; means for providing communications received from a remote UE using one or more lateral link interface radio bearers to a base station; means for establishing a lateral-link unicast link with a remote UE using one or more lateral-link signaling messages, wherein security of the lateral-link unicast link is configured as part of a lateral-link unicast link establishment procedure for the lateral-link unicast link; means for relaying communications from a remote UE to a base station, wherein communications are received over a lateral-link unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a lateral-link interface signaling protocol message for the relaying UE; means for receiving, from a base station via one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a side-link unicast link between a remote UE and the relay UE; means for configuring a side link unicast link between a remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration; means for providing, by an adaptation layer, communication over a Uu interface of the relay UE; means for relaying communications from a remote UE to a base station, wherein the communications include one or more RRC messages to be encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relaying UE without sidelink interface security protection; means for receiving, from a base station via one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a lateral link unicast link between a remote UE and a relay UE; means for configuring a sidelink interface based, at least in part, on the received access stratum configuration; means for providing, by an adaptation layer, communication over a Uu interface of the relay UE; means for determining that the remote UE is not associated with the context at the relay UE; means for establishing a sidelink unicast link with a remote UE using one or more sidelink signaling messages; means for relaying communications received from a remote UE over a unicast sidelink interface using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink signaling message; means for receiving, from a base station via an RRC message, an access stratum configuration for a unicast lateral link interface between a remote UE and a relay UE; means for modifying a lateral link unicast link between the UE and a relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration; and so on. In some aspects, the means may include one or more components of UE 120 described in connection with fig. 2, e.g., controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, DEMOD254, MIMO detector 256, receive processor 258, and/or the like.

In some aspects, base station 110 may include: means for transmitting, via the relay UE, a configuration for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers between the relay UE and the remote UE; means for receiving a communication from a remote UE via a relay UE based at least in part on the configuration; means for communicating with a remote User Equipment (UE) via a relay UE using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a dedicated lateral link signaling message for the relay UE, wherein the one or more RRC messages comprise an access stratum configuration for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers between the relay UE and the remote UE; means for receiving, via the relay UE, a communication from a remote UE based at least in part on the access stratum configuration; and so on. In some aspects, the elements may include one or more components of base station 110 described in conjunction with fig. 2, e.g., antennas 234, DEMOD 232, MIMO detector 236, receive processor 238, controller/processor 240, transmit processor 220, TX MIMO processor 230, MOD 232, antennas 234, and/or the like.

As indicated above, fig. 2 is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from the example described with reference to fig. 2.

A UE (referred to herein as a relay UE) may relay communications from another UE (referred to herein as a remote UE) to the network or from the network to the remote UE. In some aspects, the relay UE may perform layer 2 UE-to-network relaying, where in layer 2 relaying, as compared to layer 3 relaying, the adaptation layer of the relay UE performs forwarding of communications of the remote UE via the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, while in layer 3 relaying, this may occur at the Internet Protocol (IP) layer. More generally, "layer 2 relay" may refer to a relay service performed in a layer higher than a physical layer and lower than an internet-based layer or an application-based layer. The techniques and apparatus described herein are not limited to techniques and apparatus related to layer 2 UE-to-network relay. Communication between the relay UE and the remote UE may be referred to herein as sidelink communication. In some UE-to-network relay applications, Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) end-to-end connections may be used to transparently transport non-access stratum (NAS) and RRC messages between remote UEs and the network.

The ProSe sidelink (PC5) interface may provide a sidelink interface between UEs. For example, vehicle networking (V2X) communications according to NR version 16 may be performed using a PC5 unicast control plane stack, which PC5 unicast control plane stack may include a PC5 signaling (PC5-S) interface and a PC5 Access Stratum (AS) (PC5-AS) interface (e.g., PC5-RRC interface). UEs communicating using the PC5 interface may configure unicast link contexts and exchange AS information using the PC5-S interface and the PC5-RRC interface.

A UE to perform UE-to-network relay using the PC5 interface may or may not be configured with a PC5-S interface and/or a PC5-RRC interface. Thus, for such UEs, there may be ambiguity in the configuration of the lateral link interface between the relay UE and the remote UE, the configuration of the radio bearer, and the security settings. This ambiguity may result in suboptimal or inoperable UE-to-network forwarding, thereby reducing coverage and throughput for remote UEs.

Some techniques and apparatuses described herein provide a signaling scheme and configuration for UE-to-network relay using a PC5 interface between a remote UE and a relay UE. For example, some techniques and apparatus described herein provide signaling schemes and configurations for UEs that use neither a PC5-S nor a PC5-RRC interface, use only a PC5-S interface, or use both a PC5-S interface and a PC 5-RRC. Further, some techniques and apparatus described herein provide security settings and radio bearer configurations for such UEs. Thus, UE-to-network relaying (e.g., layer 2 UE-to-network relaying) may be enabled for UEs using the PC5 interface, which improves network throughput and coverage (particularly for V2X devices).

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example control plane protocol architecture 300 for a UE-to-network relay that is not configured with a sidelink signaling entity or a sidelink access layer entity, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example user plane protocol architecture 400 for a UE-to-network relay that is not configured with a sidelink signaling entity or a sidelink access layer entity, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. For example, the control plane protocol architecture 300 and the user plane protocol architecture 400 may correspond to remote UEs (e.g., UE 120) shown at reference numerals 310 and 410 and relay UEs (e.g., UE 120) shown at reference numerals 320 and 420.

As shown in fig. 3, there may be a PC5 interface between the remote UE and the relay UE, a Uu interface between the relay UE and the next generation radio access network (NG-RAN, also referred to herein as 5G access network (5G-AN)), AN N2 interface between the NG-RAN and the access and mobility management function (AMF) of the control plane protocol architecture 300, and AN N11 interface between the AMF and the Session Management Function (SMF).

As shown in fig. 4, there may be an N3 interface between the NG-RAN and the User Plane Function (UPF) of the user plane protocol architecture 400, and an N6 interface between the UPF and the core network.

As further shown, the remote UE and the relay UE may be associated with respective PC5 protocol entities, enabling communication over a PC5 interface between the remote UE and the relay UE. In fig. 3 and 4, the remote UE and the relay UE are not associated with respective PC5-S or PC5-RRC entities. An example of a UE-to-network relay signaling configuration for a UE without a PC5-S or PC5-RRC entity is described in connection with fig. 7. An example of the protocol architecture of a UE associated with the PC5-S entity is shown in fig. 5, and the corresponding UE-to-network relay signaling configurations are shown in fig. 8 and 9. An example of the protocol architecture of the UEs associated with the PC5-S entity and the PC5-RRC entity is shown in fig. 6, and the corresponding UE-to-network relay signaling configuration is shown in fig. 10. The adaptation layer of the relay UE may handle relaying from the remote UE to the network or from the network to the remote UE. As used herein, "network" may refer to any one or more of NG-RAN, AMF, SMF, UPF, or core network.

As indicated above, fig. 3 and 4 are provided as examples. Other examples may differ from those described with reference to fig. 3 and 4.

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example control plane protocol architecture 500 for a UE configured with a sidelink signaling entity, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 5, and by reference numeral 510, the remote UE and the relay UE are respectively configured with PC5-S entities. The PC5-S entity may handle signaling between the remote UE and the relay UE, such as direct communication requests, authentication, key establishment, security settings, etc.

As indicated above, fig. 5 is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from the example described with reference to fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example control plane protocol architecture 600 for a UE configured with a sidelink signaling entity and a sidelink access stratum entity, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 6, and by reference numeral 610, the remote UE and the relay UE are configured with PC5-S and PC5-RRC entities, respectively. The PC5-RRC entity may handle AS communications between the remote UE and the relay UE, such AS RRC connection establishment, communication of capability information, AS layer configuration, and the like. The PC5-RRC entity may be referred to herein as a sidelink access stratum entity and the PC5-S entity may be referred to herein as a sidelink signaling entity.

As indicated above, fig. 6 is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from the example described with reference to fig. 6.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating example signaling 700 for UE-to-network relay for a remote UE that is not configured with a sidelink signaling entity or a sidelink access stratum entity, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In some aspects, example 700 may be implemented using the protocol architectures shown in fig. 3 and 4. As shown in fig. 7, example 700 includes a remote UE (e.g., UE 120, a remote UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 310, a remote UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 410, etc.), a relay UE (e.g., UE 120, a relay UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 320, a relay UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 420, etc.), and a base station (e.g., BS110, a network, etc.).

AS shown in fig. 7, and by reference numeral 710, a remote UE and/or a relay UE may perform an AS procedure and/or one or more NAS procedures. For example, the remote UE and/or the relay UE may perform an AS procedure and/or one or more NAS procedures using the Uu interface of the remote UE and/or the relay UE. In some aspects, the AS procedure may be associated with transitioning from an idle mode (e.g., RRC idle mode) to a connected mode (e.g., RRC connected mode). For example, the remote UE may perform the Uu AS procedure specified in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS)38.300 via the relay UE. Additionally or alternatively, the remote UE may perform a Uu registration procedure or another type of Uu NAS procedure on the established NAS/AS security context settings by via the UE.

As indicated by reference numeral 720, the remote UE may send the pre-security context association message to the relay UE using a broadcast message. The pre-security context association message may include any message associated with establishing an RRC connection or AS security context between the remote UE and the base station. For example, the pre-security context association message may include information associated with establishing an RRC connection between the remote UE and the base station for communicating via the relay UE.

In some aspects, the broadcast message may be for a relay UE. In some aspects, the broadcast message may be sent using the PC5 interface or the sidelink interface using one or more Signaling Radio Bearers (SRBs) allocated for broadcasting the broadcast message on the Sidelink Broadcast Control Channel (SBCCH) of the PC5 interface. In some aspects, the broadcast message may be directed to the relay UE based at least in part on a layer 2 identifier indicating the relay UE. Communication of information associated with configuring a security context between a remote UE and a relay UE is enabled for UEs not associated with a PC5-S interface or other type of sidelink by sending the information associated with configuring the security context using a broadcast message.

As indicated by reference numeral 730, the remote UE can establish an RRC connection with the base station and/or establish a security context via the relay UE. For example, the remote UE may establish an RRC connection and/or establish an AS security context based at least in part on the pre-security context association message.

As indicated by reference numeral 740, the base station may provide an RRC reconfiguration message to the relay UE. Additionally or alternatively, as shown at reference numeral 750, the base station can provide an RRC reconfiguration message to the remote UE (e.g., via a relay UE). In some aspects, the RRC reconfiguration messages may be Uu RRC reconfiguration messages. In some aspects, the RRC reconfiguration message to the remote UE may identify a configuration to be used for an AS connection (e.g., RRC connection) specific PC5 Signaling Radio Bearer (SRB) or PC5 Data Radio Bearer (DRB). In some aspects, the RRC reconfiguration message to the relay UE may identify a configuration to be used for a PC5 link (e.g., a side link unicast link) between the relay UE and the remote UE.

As indicated by reference numeral 760, the remote UE and the relay UE may configure the PC5 link (e.g., a sidelink unicast link) according to one or more SRBs and/or DRBs indicated by the RRC reconfiguration message. Additionally or alternatively, the remote UE and the relay UE may configure one or more SRBs and/or DRBs. As indicated by reference numeral 770, the remote UE may communicate with the base station via the relay UE using UE-to-network relay. For example, a relay UE may relay communications from a remote UE to a base station or from a base station to a remote UE via a side link unicast link or one or more radio bearers.

As indicated above, fig. 7 is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from the example described with reference to fig. 7.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating example signaling 800 for UE-to-network relay for a remote UE configured with a sidelink signaling entity, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 8, and by reference numeral 810, in example 800, a remote UE and a relay UE may be associated with respective PC5-S entities.

As shown by reference numeral 820, the remote UE and the relay UE may establish a PC5 side link unicast link (sometimes referred to herein as a side link interface or PC5 link), and may establish security associated with a PC5 side link unicast link. For example, the remote UE and the relay UE may establish a PC5 lateral link unicast link and security using PC5-S signaling (e.g., one or more lateral link signaling interface messages), e.g., according to section 5.4.5 of 3GPP TS 23.303 and/or section 6.3.3.1 of 3GPP TS 23.287. In this manner, RRC messages transmitted between the remote UE and the base station may have hop-by-hop security.

As indicated by reference numeral 830, the remote UE may provide an RRC message to the relay UE. For example, the RRC message may be an RRC connection request. As further shown, the RRC message may be encapsulated in a transparent container in the PC5-S message (e.g., transparent to the relay UE). In some aspects, the PC5-S message may be an existing PC5-S message, or may be a PC5-S message specific to sending RRC messages (e.g., a RemoteUE-Uu-UL-Transfer message or a RemoteUE-Uu-DL-Transfer message). In this case, the PC5-S entity of the relay UE may pass the transparent container to the adaptation layer of the relay UE, which may send the transparent container to the base station over the Uu interface.

As indicated by reference numerals 840 and 850, the BS110 may provide one or more RRC reconfiguration messages to the remote UE and/or the relay UE. As indicated by reference numeral 860, the RRC reconfiguration message provided to the remote UE may be provided via the relay UE. For example, the relay UE may provide the RRC reconfiguration message in a PC5-S message or the like. In some aspects, the RRC reconfiguration message may be provided in a transparent container. In some aspects, the one or more RRC reconfiguration messages may configure the PC5-AS stack of the remote UE and/or the relay UE for the PC5 side-link unicast link, or may configure the PC5 side-link unicast link. As shown at reference numeral 870, the remote UE and/or the relay UE may configure the security of the PC5 side-link unicast link and/or the PC5 side-link unicast link based at least in part on the RRC reconfiguration messages indicated at reference numerals 830 and 840.

In some aspects, the base station may send a single RRC reconfiguration message to the relay UE. The RRC reconfiguration message may include: a transparent container for a lateral link interface configuration information element for relay UE AS configuration and a lateral link interface configuration information element for AS configuration for a remote UE. The relay UE may then include the transparent container in the PC5-S message sent to the remote UE.

As indicated above, fig. 8 is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from the example described with reference to fig. 8.

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating example signaling 900 for UE-to-network relay for a remote UE configured with a sidelink signaling entity, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 9, and by reference numeral 910, in example 900, a remote UE and a relay UE may be associated with respective PC5-S entities. In example 900, the remote UE and the relay UE do not use PC5-S to establish a unicast link. Instead, the remote UE and the relay UE may transmit RRC messages using PC5-S messages. In this case, the RRC message does not use PC5 link security, which may save computing resources at the expense of reduced security relative to example 800.

As shown in fig. 9, and by reference numeral 910, the remote UE may provide an RRC message to the relay UE in a PC5-S message with a transparent container. For example, the RRC message may be a Uu-RRC + PDCP message from the remote UE. The PC5-S message may be a dedicated PC5-S message, such as a RemoteUE-Relay-Comm-Req message. As shown at reference numeral 930, the relay UE may forward the RRC message to the base station. For example, the relay UE may determine that the PC5-S message includes content to be forwarded to the base station. Thus, the PC5-S entity of the relay UE may pass the embedded RRC message to the adaptation layer of the relay UE, which may route the embedded RRC message to the base station over the Uu interface.

As indicated by reference numeral 940, the relay UE may establish a context for the remote UE. For example, upon receiving a PC5-S message from the remote UE that no context is available at the relay UE, the relay UE may establish a context for the remote UE to assist with downlink forwarding of data from the base station. In some aspects, "setting up a context" may refer to storing an association (e.g., adaptation layer index) of a layer 2 identifier of a remote UE and a forwarded message. As indicated by reference numeral 950, the relay UE may receive communications directed to the remote UE (e.g., based at least in part on an adaptation layer index or layer 2 identifier). Accordingly, as indicated by reference numeral 960, the relay UE may forward communications to the remote UE based at least in part on the context.

As indicated above, fig. 9 is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from the example described with reference to fig. 9.

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating example signaling 1000 for UE-to-network relay for a remote UE configured with a lateral link signaling entity and a lateral link access layer entity, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 10, and by reference numeral 1010, in example 1000, a remote UE and a relay UE are associated with a PC5-S entity and a PC5-RRC entity.

As shown in fig. 10, and by reference numeral 1020, the relay UE and the remote UE may establish a PC5 side link unicast link. In some aspects, the relay UE and the remote UE may establish a PC5 side-link unicast link using an NR V2X unicast link establishment procedure. For example, the security and access stratum configuration of the PC5 side-link unicast link may be configured as part of the NR V2X unicast link establishment procedure. AS indicated by reference numeral 1020, the relay UE and the remote UE may configure one or more AS layer parameters for the PC5 side-link unicast link. For example, the relay UE and the remote UE may establish a PC5 side-link unicast link and configure one or more AS layer parameters using a PC5-S entity and a PC5-RRC entity, respectively.

As indicated by reference numeral 1030, the remote UE may provide the RRC message to the relay UE in a PC5-S message using a transparent container. Accordingly, the relay UE may relay the RRC message to the base station, as described in more detail elsewhere herein. As shown at reference numerals 1040 and 1050, the base station may provide RRC reconfiguration messages to the relay UE and/or the remote UE indicating the configuration for the PC5 side-link unicast link. Thus, as indicated by reference numeral 1060, the relay UE and the remote UE may configure the PC5 side-link unicast link based at least in part on the RRC reconfiguration message. In some aspects, the NR-RRC entity of the relay UE or the remote UE may communicate the RRC reconfiguration message to the PC5-RRC entity of the relay UE or the remote UE, and the PC5-RRC entity may modify the configuration of the PC5 side-link unicast link.

As indicated above, fig. 10 is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from the example described with reference to fig. 10.

Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example process 1100 performed, for example, by a remote UE, in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. The example process 1100 is an example of a remote UE (e.g., a remote UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 310, a remote UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 410, the UE 120, a remote UE shown in fig. 7-10, etc.) performing operations associated with UE-to-network relay.

As shown in fig. 11, in some aspects, process 1100 may include: a broadcast message for a relay UE is sent via a sidelink interface, wherein the broadcast message includes information associated with establishing an RRC connection between a remote UE and a base station for communicating via the relay UE (block 1110). For example, the remote UE may send a broadcast message for the relay UE via the lateral link interface (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.), as described above. In some aspects, the broadcast message includes information associated with establishing an RRC connection between the remote UE and the base station for communicating via the relay UE.

As further shown in fig. 11, in some aspects, process 1100 may include: an access stratum configuration for a lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE is received from the base station via the relay UE based at least in part on information associated with establishing the RRC connection (block 1120). For example, the remote UE may receive (e.g., using antenna 252, DEMOD254, MIMO detector 256, receive processor 258, controller/processor 280, etc.) an access stratum configuration for a lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE from the base station via the relay UE based at least in part on information associated with establishing the RRC connection, as described above.

As further shown in fig. 11, in some aspects, process 1100 may include: one or more lateral link interface radio bearers are configured according to the access stratum configuration (block 1130). For example, the remote UE may configure one or more lateral link interface radio bearers according to the access layer configuration (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.), as described above.

As further shown in fig. 11, in some aspects, process 1100 may include: communicating with the base station via the relay UE using the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers (block 1140). For example, the remote UE may communicate with the base station via the relay UE (e.g., using the controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) using the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers, as described above.

Process 1100 may include additional aspects, e.g., aspects of any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and/or in combination with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, the access stratum configuration comprises at least one of: a radio bearer configuration information element, a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) configuration information element, or a resource allocation information element for the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers.

In a second aspect, the access stratum configuration is received in a lateral link interface configuration information element in an RRC reconfiguration message, alone or in combination with the first aspect.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the sidelink interface is a ProSe sidelink (PC5) interface.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to third aspects, the broadcast message is an RRC message and is sent on a sidelink broadcast control channel using a signaling radio bearer.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, the broadcast message is directed to the relay UE based at least in part on a layer 2 identifier of the relay UE.

In a sixth aspect, the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers include one or more signaling radio bearers or one or more data radio bearers for a unicast access layer connection between the remote UE and the relay UE, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fifth aspects.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to sixth aspects, the access stratum configuration comprises information indicating a DRX configuration or information indicating a resource allocation configuration.

Although fig. 11 shows exemplary blocks of process 1100, in some aspects, process 1100 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or a different arrangement of blocks than depicted in fig. 11. Additionally or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process 1100 may be performed in parallel.

Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example process 1200 performed, for example, by a remote UE, in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. The example process 1200 is an example of a remote UE (e.g., a remote UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 310, a remote UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 410, the UE 120, a remote UE shown in fig. 7-10, etc.) performing operations associated with UE-to-network relay.

As shown in fig. 12, in some aspects, process 1200 may include: establishing a lateral link unicast link with the relay UE using one or more lateral link signaling messages, wherein security of the lateral link unicast link is configured as part of a lateral link unicast link establishment procedure for the lateral link unicast link (block 1210). For example, the remote UE may establish a lateral link unicast link with the relay UE (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) using one or more lateral link signaling messages, as described above. In some aspects, security of the lateral link unicast link is configured as part of a lateral link unicast link establishment procedure for the lateral link unicast link.

As further shown in fig. 12, in some aspects, process 1200 may include: communicating with the base station via the relay UE over the sidelink unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink interface signaling protocol message for the relay UE (block 1220). For example, the remote UE may communicate with the base station via the relay UE over a lateral link unicast link (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a lateral link interface signaling protocol message for the relay UE, as described above.

As further shown in fig. 12, in some aspects, process 1200 may include: receiving, from the base station via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE (block 1230). For example, the remote UE may receive (e.g., using antenna 252, DEMOD254, MIMO detector 256, receive processor 258, controller/processor 280, etc.) the access stratum configuration for the side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE from the base station via the one or more RRC messages, as described above.

As further shown in fig. 12, in some aspects, process 1200 may include: configuring a lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration (block 1240). For example, the remote UE may configure (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration, as described above.

Process 1200 may include additional aspects, e.g., aspects of any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and/or in combination with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, the access stratum configuration comprises at least one of: a radio bearer configuration information element, a DRX configuration information element, or a resource allocation information element for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers of the lateral link unicast link.

In a second aspect, the access stratum configuration is received in a lateral link interface configuration information element in an RRC reconfiguration message, alone or in combination with the first aspect.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the unicast lateral link interface is a PC5 interface.

In a fourth aspect, the remote UE is associated with a lateral link interface signaling protocol entity, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fourth aspects, the access stratum configuration comprises information indicating a DRX configuration or information indicating a resource allocation configuration.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth aspects, the process 1200 may comprise: receiving, via the relay, an RRC reconfiguration message for the remote UE from the base station encapsulated in a transparent container, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message is received in a lateral link interface signaling protocol message for the remote UE.

In a seventh aspect, the RRC reconfiguration message for the remote UE is received with the RRC reconfiguration message for the relay UE, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to sixth aspects.

Although fig. 12 shows exemplary blocks of process 1200, in some aspects process 1200 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or a different arrangement of blocks than depicted in fig. 12. Additionally or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process 1200 may be performed in parallel.

Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example process 1300, e.g., performed by a remote UE, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The example process 1300 is an example of a remote UE (e.g., a remote UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 310, a remote UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 410, the UE 120, a remote UE shown in fig. 7-10, etc.) performing operations associated with UE-to-network relay.

As shown in fig. 13, in some aspects, process 1300 may include: communicating with the base station via the relay UE using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE without sidelink interface security protection (block 1310). For example, the remote UE may communicate with the base station via the relay UE (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE without sidelink interface security protection, as described above.

As further illustrated in fig. 13, in some aspects, process 1300 may include: an access stratum configuration for a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE is received from the base station via one or more RRC messages (block 1320). For example, the remote UE may receive the access stratum configuration for the lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE from the base station via one or more RRC messages (e.g., using antenna 252, DEMOD254, MIMO detector 256, receive processor 258, controller/processor 280, etc.), as described above.

As further illustrated in fig. 13, in some aspects, process 1300 may include: the lateral link interface is configured based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration (block 1330). For example, the remote UE may configure the lateral link interface (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration, as described above.

Process 1300 may include additional aspects, e.g., aspects of any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and/or in combination with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, the access stratum configuration comprises information indicating a DRX configuration or information indicating a resource allocation configuration.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the access stratum configuration comprises information associated with establishing one or more radio bearers over the lateral link interface for communication between the remote UE and the relay UE.

In a third aspect, the remote UE is associated with a lateral link signaling protocol entity (PC5-S), either alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects.

In a fourth aspect, the dedicated sidelink signaling message comprises a message associated with a ProSe sidelink signaling protocol entity, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to third aspects.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fourth aspects, the dedicated sidelink signaling message is directed to the relay UE based at least in part on a layer 2 identifier of the relay UE.

In a sixth aspect, the access stratum configuration comprises at least one of the following, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fifth aspects: a radio bearer configuration information element, a DRX configuration information element, or a resource allocation information element for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers of the lateral link unicast link.

In a seventh aspect, the access stratum configuration is received in a sidelink interface configuration information element in an RRC reconfiguration message, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects.

Although fig. 13 shows exemplary blocks of process 1300, in some aspects process 1300 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or a different arrangement of blocks than depicted in fig. 13. Additionally or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process 1300 may be performed in parallel.

Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example process 1400, e.g., performed by a remote UE, in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. The exemplary process 1400 is an example of a remote UE (e.g., a remote UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 310, a remote UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 410, the UE 120, a remote UE shown in fig. 7-10, etc.) performing operations associated with UE-to-network relay.

As shown in fig. 14, in some aspects, process 1400 may include: establishing a lateral link unicast link with the relay UE using one or more lateral link signaling messages, wherein security and access stratum configurations for the lateral link unicast link are configured as part of a lateral link unicast link establishment procedure for the relay UE (block 1410). For example, the remote UE may establish a lateral link unicast link with the relay UE (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) using one or more lateral link signaling messages, as described above. In some aspects, security and access stratum configuration for the lateral link unicast link is configured as part of a lateral link unicast link establishment procedure for the relay UE.

As further shown in fig. 14, in some aspects, process 1400 may include: communicating with the base station via the relay UE on the sidelink unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink signaling message (block 1420). For example, the remote UE may communicate with the base station via the relay UE over a lateral link unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a lateral link signaling message (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.), as described above.

As further shown in fig. 14, in some aspects, process 1400 may include: an access stratum configuration for a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE is received from the base station via one or more RRC messages (block 1430). For example, the remote UE may receive an access stratum configuration for a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE via one or more RRC messages (e.g., using antennas 252, DEMOD254, MIMO detector 256, receive processor 258, controller/processor 280, etc.), as described above, from the base station.

As further shown in fig. 14, in some aspects, process 1400 may include: the lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE is modified based at least in part on the received access layer configuration (block 1440). For example, the remote UE may modify a lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) based at least in part on the received access layer configuration, as described above.

Process 1400 may include additional aspects, e.g., any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and/or aspects in combination with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, the remote UE is associated with a lateral link signaling protocol entity (PC5-S) and a lateral link access stratum protocol entity (PC 5-RRC).

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the access stratum configuration comprises at least one of: a radio bearer configuration information element, a DRX configuration information element, or a resource allocation information element for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers of the lateral link unicast link.

In a third aspect, the access stratum configuration is received in a sidelink interface configuration information element in an RRC reconfiguration message, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects.

Although fig. 14 shows exemplary blocks of process 1400, in some aspects, process 1400 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or a different arrangement of blocks than depicted in fig. 14. Additionally or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process 1400 may be performed in parallel.

Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example process 1500, e.g., performed by a relay UE, in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. Exemplary process 1500 is an example of a relay UE (e.g., a relay UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 320, a relay UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 420, UE 120, a relay UE shown in fig. 7-10, etc.) performing operations associated with UE-to-network relay.

As shown in fig. 15, in some aspects, process 1500 may include: a broadcast message is received from a remote UE for a relay UE via a side link interface, wherein the broadcast message includes information associated with establishing an RRC connection between the remote UE and a base station for communicating with the remote UE via the relay UE (block 1510). For example, the relay UE may receive a broadcast message for the relay UE from a remote UE via a lateral link interface (e.g., using antenna 252, DEMOD254, MIMO detector 256, receive processor 258, controller/processor 280, etc.), as described above. In some aspects, the broadcast message includes information associated with establishing an RRC connection between the remote UE and the base station for communicating with the remote UE via the relay UE.

As further shown in fig. 15, in some aspects, process 1500 may include: one or more messages related to establishing an RRC connection between the base station and the remote UE are relayed (block 1520). For example, the relay UE may relay one or more messages related to establishing an RRC connection between the base station and the remote UE (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.), as described above.

As further shown in fig. 15, in some aspects, process 1500 may include: an access stratum configuration for a lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE is received from the base station based at least in part on information associated with establishing the RRC connection for the remote UE (block 1530). For example, the relay UE may receive (e.g., using antenna 252, DEMOD254, MIMO detector 256, receive processor 258, controller/processor 280, etc.) an access stratum configuration for a lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE from the base station based at least in part on information associated with establishing the RRC connection, as described above.

As further shown in fig. 15, in some aspects, process 1500 may include: one or more lateral link interface radio bearers are configured according to the access stratum configuration (block 1540). For example, the relay UE may configure one or more lateral link interface radio bearers according to an access layer configuration (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.), as described above.

As further shown in fig. 15, in some aspects, process 1500 may include: communications received from the remote UE using one or more lateral link interface radio bearers are provided to the base station (block 1550). For example, the relay UE may provide communications to the base station (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) received from the remote UE using one or more lateral link interface radio bearers, as described above.

Process 1500 may include additional aspects, e.g., aspects of any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and/or in combination with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, the sidelink interface is a ProSe sidelink (PC5) interface.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the broadcast message is an RRC message and is received on a sidelink broadcast control channel using a signaling radio bearer.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the broadcast message is directed to the relay UE based at least in part on a layer 2 identifier of the relay UE.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to third aspects, the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers comprise one or more signaling radio bearers or one or more data radio bearers for a unicast access layer connection between the remote UE and the relay UE.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fourth aspects, the access stratum configuration comprises information indicating a DRX configuration or information indicating a resource allocation configuration.

In a sixth aspect, the access stratum configuration comprises at least one of the following, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fifth aspects: a radio bearer configuration information element, a DRX configuration information element, or a resource allocation information element for the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers.

In a seventh aspect, the access stratum configuration is received in a sidelink interface configuration information element in an RRC reconfiguration message, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects.

Although fig. 15 shows exemplary blocks of the process 1500, in some aspects the process 1500 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or a different arrangement of blocks than depicted in fig. 15. Additionally or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process 1500 may be performed in parallel.

Fig. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example process 1600 performed, for example, by a relay UE, in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. The example process 1600 is an example of a relay UE (e.g., a relay UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 320, a relay UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 420, the UE 120, the relay UEs shown in fig. 7-10, etc.) performing operations associated with UE-to-network relaying.

As shown in fig. 16, in some aspects, process 1600 may include: a side-link unicast link is established with a remote UE using one or more side-link signaling messages, wherein security of the side-link unicast link is configured as part of a side-link unicast link establishment procedure for the side-link unicast link (block 1610). For example, the relay UE may establish a lateral link unicast link with the remote UE (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) using one or more lateral link signaling messages, as described above. In some aspects, security of a side-link unicast link is configured as part of a side-link unicast link establishment procedure for the side-link unicast link.

As further shown in fig. 16, in some aspects, process 1600 may include: communications are relayed from the remote UE to the base station, where the communications are received on a sidelink unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink interface signaling protocol message for the relay UE (block 1620). For example, a relay UE may relay communications from a remote UE to a base station (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.), as described above. In some aspects, the communication is received on a lateral link unicast link using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a lateral link interface signaling protocol message for the relay UE.

As further shown in fig. 16, in some aspects, process 1600 may include: an access stratum configuration for a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE is received from the base station via one or more RRC messages (block 1630). For example, the relay UE may receive (e.g., using antenna 252, DEMOD254, MIMO detector 256, receive processor 258, controller/processor 280, etc.) an access stratum configuration for a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE from the base station via one or more RRC messages, as described above.

As further shown in fig. 16, in some aspects, process 1600 may include: a lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE is configured based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration (block 1640). For example, the relay UE may configure a lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE (e.g., using antennas 252, DEMOD254, MIMO detector 256, receive processor 258, controller/processor 280, etc.) based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration, as described above.

Process 1600 may include additional aspects, e.g., any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and/or aspects in combination with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, the unicast lateral link interface is a ProSe lateral link (PC5) interface.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the relay UE is associated with a sidelink signaling entity configured to communicate the sidelink signaling message to an adaptation layer of the relay UE, and relaying the communication further comprises: providing, by the adaptation layer, the communication over a Uu interface of the relay UE.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the access stratum configuration comprises at least one of: a radio bearer configuration information element, a DRX configuration information element, or a resource allocation information element for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers of the lateral link unicast link.

In a fourth aspect, the access stratum configuration is received in a sidelink interface configuration information element in an RRC reconfiguration message, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fourth aspects, the unicast lateral link interface is a ProSe lateral link (PC5) interface.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth aspects, the remote UE is associated with a lateral link interface signaling protocol entity (PC 5-S).

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to sixth aspects, the access stratum configuration comprises information indicating a DRX configuration or information indicating a resource allocation configuration.

In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventh aspects, the process 1600 may comprise: receive, from the base station, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message for the remote UE encapsulated in a transparent container, and provide the RRC reconfiguration message in the transparent container to the remote UE in a lateral link interface signaling protocol message for the remote UE.

Although fig. 16 shows exemplary blocks of process 1600, in some aspects process 1600 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or a different arrangement of blocks than depicted in fig. 16. Additionally or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process 1600 may be performed in parallel.

Fig. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example process 1700 performed, for example, by a relay UE, in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. The example process 1700 is an example of a relay UE (e.g., a relay UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 320, a relay UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 420, a UE 120, a relay UE shown in fig. 7-10, etc.) performing operations associated with UE-to-network relay.

As shown in fig. 17, in some aspects, process 1700 may include: relaying a communication from the remote UE to the base station, wherein the communication includes one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE without sidelink interface security protection (block 1710). For example, a relay UE may relay communications from a remote UE to a base station (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.), as described above. In some aspects, the communication includes one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE without sidelink interface security protection.

As further shown in fig. 17, in some aspects, process 1700 may include: an access stratum configuration for a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE is received from the base station via one or more RRC messages (block 1720). For example, the relay UE may receive (e.g., using antenna 252, DEMOD254, MIMO detector 256, receive processor 258, controller/processor 280, etc.) an access stratum configuration for a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE from the base station via one or more RRC messages, as described above.

As further shown in fig. 17, in some aspects, process 1700 may include: the sidelink interface is configured based, at least in part, on the received access stratum configuration (block 1730). For example, the relay UE may configure the lateral link interface (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) based at least in part on the received access layer configuration, as described above.

Process 1700 may include additional aspects, e.g., aspects of any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and/or in combination with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, the relay UE is associated with a sidelink signaling entity configured to communicate the dedicated sidelink signaling message to an adaptation layer of the relay UE, and relaying the communication further comprises: providing, by the adaptation layer, the communication over a Uu interface of the relay UE.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the access stratum configuration comprises information associated with establishing one or more radio bearers over the lateral link interface for communication between the remote UE and the relay UE.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the remote UE is associated with a lateral link interface signaling protocol entity (PC 5-S).

In a fourth aspect, the dedicated sidelink signaling message comprises a message associated with a ProSe sidelink signaling entity, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to third aspects.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fourth aspects, the dedicated sidelink signaling message is directed to the relay UE based at least in part on a layer 2 identifier of the relay UE.

In a sixth aspect, the access stratum configuration comprises at least one of the following, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fifth aspects: a radio bearer configuration information element, a DRX configuration information element, or a resource allocation information element for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers of the lateral link unicast link.

In a seventh aspect, the access stratum configuration is received in a sidelink interface configuration information element in an RRC reconfiguration message, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects.

In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to seventh aspects, relaying the communication further comprises: relaying the communication from the base station to the remote UE based at least in part on the context.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to eighth aspects, the access stratum configuration comprises information indicating a DRX configuration or information indicating a resource allocation configuration.

In a tenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through ninth aspects, the process 1700 may comprise: receive, from the base station, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message for the remote UE encapsulated in a transparent container, and provide the RRC reconfiguration message in the transparent container to the remote UE in a lateral link interface signaling protocol message for the remote UE.

Although fig. 17 shows exemplary blocks of the process 1700, in some aspects, the process 1700 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or a different arrangement of blocks than those depicted in fig. 17. Additionally or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process 1700 may be performed in parallel.

Fig. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example process 1800, e.g., performed by a relay UE, in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. Exemplary process 1800 is an example of a relay UE (e.g., a relay UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 320, a relay UE associated with the protocol architecture shown by reference numeral 420, UE 120, a relay UE shown in fig. 7-10, etc.) performing operations associated with UE-to-network relaying.

As shown in fig. 18, in some aspects, process 1800 may include: a side link unicast link is established with the remote UE using one or more side link signaling messages (block 1810). For example, the relay UE may establish a lateral link unicast link with the remote UE (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) using one or more lateral link signaling messages, as described above.

As further shown in fig. 18, in some aspects, process 1800 may include: communications received from the remote UE over the unicast sidelink interface are relayed using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink signaling message (block 1820). For example, the relay UE may relay communications received from the remote UE over the unicast lateral link interface (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a lateral link signaling message, as described above.

As further shown in fig. 18, in some aspects, process 1800 may include: an access stratum configuration for a unicast lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE is received from the base station via an RRC message (block 1830). For example, the relay UE may receive an access stratum configuration for a unicast lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE from the base station via an RRC message (e.g., using antenna 252, DEMOD254, MIMO detector 256, receive processor 258, controller/processor 280, etc.), as described above.

As further shown in fig. 18, in some aspects, process 1800 may include: the side link unicast link between the UE and the relay UE is modified based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration (block 1840). For example, the relay UE may modify a lateral link unicast link between the UE and the relay UE (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) based at least in part on the received access layer configuration, as described above.

The process 1800 may include additional aspects, such as aspects of any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and/or in combination with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, the remote UE is associated with a lateral link interface signaling protocol entity (PC5-S) and a lateral link access stratum protocol entity (PC 5-RRC).

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the access stratum configuration comprises at least one of: a radio bearer configuration information element, a DRX configuration information element, or a resource allocation information element for the sidelink unicast link.

In a third aspect, the access stratum configuration is received in a sidelink interface configuration information element in an RRC reconfiguration message, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects, the process 1800 may comprise: receive a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message for the remote UE encapsulated in a transparent container from the base station and provide the RRC reconfiguration message in the transparent container to the remote UE, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message is provided in a lateral link interface signaling protocol message for the remote UE or in a lateral link interface access stratum protocol message for the remote UE.

Although fig. 18 shows exemplary blocks of the process 1800, in some aspects the process 1800 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or a different arrangement of blocks than depicted in fig. 18. Additionally or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process 1800 may be performed in parallel.

Fig. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example process 1900 performed, for example, by a base station, in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. The example process 1900 is an example of a base station (e.g., base station 110, network, etc.) performing operations associated with a UE-to-network relay.

As shown in fig. 19, in some aspects process 1900 may include: the method includes sending, via a relay UE, a configuration for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers between the relay UE and a remote UE (block 1910). For example, the base station may send (e.g., using controller/processor 240, transmit processor 220, TX MIMO processor 230, MOD 232, antenna 234, etc.) a configuration for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers between the relay UE and the remote UE, as described above.

As further shown in fig. 19, in some aspects, process 1900 may include: based at least in part on the configuration, a communication is received from the remote UE via the relay UE (block 1920). For example, the base station may receive communications from the remote UE via the relay UE based at least in part on the configuration (e.g., using antennas 234, DEMOD 232, MIMO detector 236, receive processor 238, controller/processor 240, etc.), as described above.

Process 1900 may include additional aspects, e.g., aspects of any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and/or in combination with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers include one or more signaling radio bearers or one or more data radio bearers for an access layer connection between the remote UE and the relay UE.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers are for a lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the configuration indicates an update for a lateral link unicast link between the UE and the relay UE.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to third aspects, the configuration is a ProSe lateral link configuration sent using access stratum signaling.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, the process 1900 may include: sending a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message for the remote UE encapsulated in a transparent container, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message in the transparent container is provided to the remote UE in a lateral link interface signaling protocol message for the remote UE or in a lateral link interface access stratum protocol message for the remote UE.

Although fig. 19 shows exemplary blocks of process 1900, in some aspects, process 1900 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or a different arrangement of blocks than depicted in fig. 19. Additionally or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process 1900 may be performed in parallel.

Fig. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example process 2000, e.g., performed by a remote UE, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Exemplary process 2000 is an example of a remote UE (e.g., UE 120) performing operations associated with a user equipment-to-network relay.

As shown in fig. 20, in some aspects, process 2000 may include: communicating with a network entity via a relay UE using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE (block 2010). For example, the UE may communicate with the network entity via the relay UE (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE, as described above.

As further shown in fig. 20, in some aspects, process 2000 may include: an access stratum configuration for a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE is received from a network entity via the one or more RRC messages (block 2020). For example, the UE may receive (e.g., using antenna 252, DEMOD254, MIMO detector 256, receive processor 258, controller/processor 280, etc.) an access stratum configuration for a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE from the network entity via the one or more RRC messages, as described above.

As further shown in fig. 20, in some aspects, process 2000 may include: configuring a sidelink unicast link based, at least in part, on the received access stratum configuration (block 2030). For example, the UE may configure the lateral link unicast link (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) based at least in part on the received access layer configuration, as described above.

Process 2000 may include additional aspects, such as aspects of any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and/or in combination with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, the dedicated sidelink signaling message is sent without sidelink interface security protection.

In a second aspect, the dedicated sidelink signaling message is sent with sidelink interface security protection, alone or in combination with the first aspect, and wherein the sidelink interface security protection is configured prior to relaying.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the dedicated sidelink signaling message comprises a message associated with a sidelink signaling protocol (PC5-S) entity or a sidelink radio resource control (PC5-RRC) entity.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects, configuring the lateral-link unicast link further comprises: configuring one or more lateral link interface radio bearers according to the access layer configuration, wherein the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers include one or more signaling radio bearers or one or more data radio bearers for a unicast access layer connection between the remote UE and the relay UE.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, the process 2000 comprises: communicating via the side link unicast link.

In a sixth aspect, the communication is a unicast communication, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fifth aspects.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects, the side link unicast link is a PC5-RRC connection.

In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventh aspects, the dedicated sidelink signaling message is directed to the relay UE based at least in part on a layer 2 identifier of the relay UE.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to eighth aspects, the access stratum configuration comprises at least one of: a radio bearer configuration information element, a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) configuration information element, or a resource allocation information element for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers of the lateral link unicast link.

In a tenth aspect, the access stratum configuration is received in a lateral link interface configuration information element in an RRC reconfiguration message, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through ninth aspects.

Although fig. 20 shows exemplary blocks of the process 2000, in some aspects, the process 2000 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or a different arrangement of blocks than depicted in fig. 20. Additionally or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process 2000 may be performed in parallel.

Fig. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example process 2100, e.g., performed by a relay UE, in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. The example process 2100 is an example of a remote UE (e.g., UE 120) performing operations associated with user equipment-to-network relay.

As shown in fig. 21, in some aspects, process 2100 may include: a side link unicast link is established with the remote UE using one or more side link signaling messages (block 2110). For example, the relay UE may establish a lateral link unicast link with the remote UE (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) using one or more lateral link signaling messages, as described above.

As further shown in fig. 21, in some aspects, process 2100 may include: communications received from the remote UE over the unicast sidelink interface are relayed using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a sidelink signaling message (block 2120). For example, the relay UE may relay communications received from the remote UE over the unicast lateral link interface (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.) using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in lateral link signaling messages, as described above.

As further shown in fig. 21, in some aspects, process 2100 may include: an access stratum configuration for a unicast lateral link interface between a remote UE and a relay UE is received from a network entity via an RRC message (block 2130). For example, the relay UE may receive an access stratum configuration for a unicast lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE from the network entity via RRC messages (e.g., using antenna 252, DEMOD254, MIMO detector 256, receive processor 258, controller/processor 280, etc.), as described above.

As further shown in fig. 21, in some aspects, process 2100 may include: the lateral link unicast link between the UE and the relay UE is modified based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration (block 2140). For example, the UE may modify a lateral link unicast link between the UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access layer configuration (e.g., using controller/processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD254, antenna 252, etc.), as described above.

The process 2100 may include additional aspects, e.g., any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and/or aspects in combination with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, process 2100 includes: receive a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message for a remote UE encapsulated in a transparent container from the network entity and provide the RRC reconfiguration message in the transparent container to the remote UE, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message is provided in a lateral link interface signaling protocol message for the remote UE or in a lateral link interface access layer protocol message for the remote UE.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the remote UE is associated with a lateral link signaling protocol entity (PC5-S) and a lateral link access stratum protocol entity (PC 5-RRC).

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the access stratum configuration comprises at least one of: a radio bearer configuration information element, a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) configuration information element, or a resource allocation information element for the side link unicast link.

In a fourth aspect, the access stratum configuration is received in a sidelink interface configuration information element in an RRC reconfiguration message, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects.

Although fig. 21 shows exemplary blocks of the process 2100, in some aspects, the process 2100 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or a different arrangement of blocks than depicted in fig. 21. Additionally or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process 2100 may be performed in parallel.

Fig. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example process 2200 performed, for example, by a network entity, in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. Exemplary process 2200 is an example of a network entity (e.g., BS 110) performing operations associated with user equipment-to-network relay.

As shown in fig. 22, in some aspects, process 2200 may include: communicating with a remote UE via a relay UE using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a dedicated lateral link signaling message for the relay UE, wherein the one or more RRC messages include an access layer configuration for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers between the relay UE and the remote UE (block 2210). For example, the network entity may communicate with the remote UE via the relay UE (e.g., using controller/processor 240, transmit processor 220, TX MIMO processor 230, MOD 232, antenna 234, etc.) using one or more RRC messages encapsulated in a dedicated lateral link signaling message for the relay UE, wherein the one or more RRC messages include an access layer configuration for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers between the relay UE and the remote UE, as described above.

As further shown in fig. 22, in some aspects, process 2200 may comprise: communications are received from the remote UE via the relay UE based at least in part on the access stratum configuration (block 2220). For example, the network entity may receive communications from the remote UE via the relay UE based at least in part on the access stratum configuration (e.g., using antennas 234, DEMOD 232, MIMO detector 236, receive processor 238, controller/processor 240, memory 242, etc.), as described above.

Process 2200 may include additional aspects, e.g., aspects of any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and/or in combination with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers include one or more signaling radio bearers or one or more data radio bearers for an access layer connection between the remote UE and the relay UE.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers are for a lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the access layer configuration indicates an update to a lateral link unicast link between the UE and the relay UE.

In a fourth aspect, the access layer configuration is a ProSe sidelink link configuration sent using access layer signaling, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, the one or more RRC messages include an RRC reconfiguration message for the remote UE encapsulated in a transparent container, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message is provided to the remote UE in the transparent container in a lateral link interface signaling protocol message for the remote UE or in a lateral link interface access layer protocol message for the remote UE.

Although fig. 22 shows exemplary blocks of the process 2200, in some aspects, the process 2200 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or a different arrangement of blocks than depicted in fig. 22. Additionally or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process 2200 may be performed in parallel.

The following provides a summary of some aspects of the disclosure.

Aspect 1: a method of wireless communication performed by a remote User Equipment (UE), comprising: communicating with a network entity via a relay UE using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE; receiving, from the network entity via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a side-link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE; and configuring the side link unicast link based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

Aspect 2: the method of aspect 1, wherein the dedicated sidelink signaling message is transmitted without sidelink interface security protection.

Aspect 3: the method of any of aspects 1-2, wherein the dedicated sidelink signaling message is transmitted with sidelink interface security protection, and wherein the sidelink interface security protection is configured prior to relaying.

Aspect 4: the method of any of aspects 1-3, wherein the dedicated sidelink signaling message comprises a message associated with a sidelink signaling protocol (PC5-S) entity or a sidelink radio resource control (PC5-RRC) entity.

Aspect 5: the method of any of aspects 1-4, wherein configuring the side-link unicast link further comprises: configuring one or more lateral link interface radio bearers according to the access layer configuration, wherein the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers include one or more signaling radio bearers or one or more data radio bearers for a unicast access layer connection between the remote UE and the relay UE.

Aspect 6: the method of any of aspects 1-5, further comprising: communicating via the side link unicast link.

Aspect 7: the method of aspect 6, wherein the communication is a unicast communication.

Aspect 8: the method of any of aspects 1-7, wherein the lateral link unicast link is a PC5-RRC connection.

Aspect 9: the method of any of aspects 1-8, wherein the dedicated sidelink signaling message is directed to the relay UE based at least in part on a layer 2 identifier of the relay UE.

Aspect 10: the method of any of aspects 1-9, wherein the access stratum configuration comprises at least one of: a radio bearer configuration information element, a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) configuration information element, or a resource allocation information element for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers of the lateral link unicast link.

Aspect 11: the method of aspect 10, wherein the access stratum configuration is received in a sidelink interface configuration information element in an RRC reconfiguration message.

Aspect 12: a method of wireless communication performed by a relay User Equipment (UE), comprising: establishing a lateral link unicast link with a remote UE using one or more lateral link signaling messages; relaying communications received from the remote UE over a unicast lateral link interface using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a lateral link signaling message; receiving, from a network entity via an RRC message, an access stratum configuration for a unicast lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE; and modifying the side-link unicast link between the UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

Aspect 13: the method of aspect 12, further comprising: receiving, from the network entity, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message for the remote UE encapsulated in a transparent container; and providing the RRC reconfiguration message in the transparent container to the remote UE, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message is provided in a lateral link interface signaling protocol message for the remote UE or in a lateral link interface access layer protocol message for the remote UE.

Aspect 14: the method of any of aspects 12-13, wherein the remote UE is associated with a lateral link signaling protocol entity (PC5-S) and a lateral link access stratum protocol entity (PC 5-RRC).

Aspect 15: the method of any of aspects 12-14, wherein the access stratum configuration comprises at least one of: a radio bearer configuration information element, a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) configuration information element, or a resource allocation information element for the side link unicast link.

Aspect 16: the method of any of aspects 12-15, wherein the access stratum configuration is received in a sidelink interface configuration information element in an RRC reconfiguration message.

Aspect 17: a method of wireless communication performed by a network entity, comprising: communicating with a remote User Equipment (UE) via a relay UE using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a dedicated lateral link signaling message for the relay UE, wherein the one or more RRC messages comprise an access stratum configuration for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers between the relay UE and the remote UE; and receive communications from the remote UE via the relay UE based at least in part on the access stratum configuration.

Aspect 18: the method of aspect 17, wherein the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers comprise one or more signaling radio bearers or one or more data radio bearers for an access layer connection between the remote UE and the relay UE.

Aspect 19: the method of any of aspects 17-18, wherein the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers are for a lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE.

Aspect 20: the method of any of aspects 17-19, wherein the access stratum configuration indicates an update to a lateral link unicast link between the UE and the relay UE.

Aspect 21: the method of any of aspects 17-20, wherein the access layer configuration is a ProSe sidelink link configuration transmitted using access layer signaling.

Aspect 22: the method of any of aspects 17-21, wherein the one or more RRC messages include an RRC reconfiguration message for the remote UE encapsulated in a transparent container, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message is provided to the remote UE in a lateral link interface signaling protocol message for the remote UE or in a lateral link interface access layer protocol message for the remote UE in the transparent container.

Aspect 23: an apparatus for wireless communication at a device, comprising: a processor; a memory coupled with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform the method according to one or more of aspects 1-22.

Aspect 24: an apparatus for wireless communication, comprising a memory and one or more processors coupled to the memory, the memory and the one or more processors configured to perform the method of one or more of aspects 1-22.

Aspect 25: an apparatus for wireless communication, comprising at least one means for performing the method of one or more of aspects 1-22.

Aspect 26: a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform a method according to one or more of aspects 1-22.

Aspect 27: a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions for wireless communication, the set of instructions comprising one or more instructions that when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the device to perform the method according to one or more of aspects 1-22.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit these aspects to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the aspects.

As used herein, the term "component" is intended to be broadly interpreted as hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software. As used herein, a processor is implemented using hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software.

As used herein, meeting a threshold may refer to a value being greater than the threshold, greater than or equal to the threshold, less than or equal to the threshold, not equal to the threshold, and so forth, depending on the context.

It will be apparent that the systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented using different forms of hardware, firmware, and/or combinations of hardware and software. The actual specialized control hardware or software code used to implement the systems and/or methods is not limiting of these aspects. Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and/or methods were described without reference to the specific software code-it being understood that software and hardware for implementing the systems and/or methods could be designed based, at least in part, on the description herein.

Although combinations of features are set forth in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of the various aspects. Indeed, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although each of the dependent claims listed below is directly dependent on only one claim, the disclosure of the various aspects includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set. A phrase referring to "at least one of a list of items refers to any combination of those items (which includes a single member). For example, "at least one of a, b, or c" is intended to cover a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combination of multiple identical elements (e.g., a-a-a, a-a-b, a-a-c, a-b-b, a-c-c, b-b-b, b-b-c, c-c, and c-c-c, or any other ordering of a, b, and c).

No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. In addition, as used herein, the articles "a" and "an" are intended to include one or more items, which may be used interchangeably with "one or more". Further, as used herein, the terms "set" and "group" are intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, combinations of related and unrelated items, etc.), which can be used interchangeably with "one or more. If only one item is intended, the phrase "only one" or similar phrases will be used. Furthermore, as used herein, the terms "comprising," "having," "including," and the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase "based on" is intended to mean "based, at least in part, on" unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Claims (30)

1. A method of wireless communication performed by a remote User Equipment (UE), comprising:

communicating with a network entity via a relay UE using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE;

receiving, from the network entity via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a side link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE; and

configuring the side link unicast link based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the dedicated sidelink signaling message is transmitted without sidelink interface security protection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the dedicated sidelink signaling message is transmitted with sidelink interface security protection, and wherein the sidelink interface security protection is configured prior to relaying.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the dedicated sidelink signaling message comprises a message associated with a sidelink signaling protocol (PC5-S) entity or a sidelink radio resource control (PC5-RRC) entity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the sidelink unicast link further comprises:

configuring one or more lateral link interface radio bearers according to the access stratum configuration, wherein the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers include one or more signaling radio bearers or one or more data radio bearers for a unicast access stratum connection between the remote UE and the relay UE.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing communication via the side link unicast link.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the communication is a unicast communication.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the lateral link unicast link is a PC5-RRC connection.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the dedicated sidelink signaling message is directed to the relay UE based at least in part on a layer 2 identifier of the relay UE.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the access stratum configuration comprises at least one of: a radio bearer configuration information element, a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) configuration information element, or a resource allocation information element for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers of the lateral link unicast link.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the access stratum configuration is received in a sidelink interface configuration information element in an RRC reconfiguration message.

12. A method of wireless communication performed by a relay User Equipment (UE), comprising:

establishing a lateral link unicast link with a remote UE using one or more lateral link signaling messages;

relaying communications received from the remote UE over a unicast lateral link interface using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a lateral link signaling message;

receiving, from a network entity via an RRC message, an access stratum configuration for a unicast lateral link interface between the remote UE and the relay UE; and

modifying the lateral link unicast link between the UE and the relay UE based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving, from the network entity, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message for the remote UE encapsulated in a transparent container; and

providing the RRC reconfiguration message in the transparent container to the remote UE,

wherein the RRC reconfiguration message is provided in a lateral link interface signaling protocol message for the remote UE or in a lateral link interface access layer protocol message for the remote UE.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the remote UE is associated with a lateral link signaling protocol entity (PC5-S) and a lateral link access stratum protocol entity (PC 5-RRC).

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the access stratum configuration comprises at least one of: a radio bearer configuration information element, a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) configuration information element, or a resource allocation information element for the side link unicast link.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the access stratum configuration is received in a sidelink interface configuration information element in an RRC reconfiguration message.

17. A method of wireless communication performed by a network entity, comprising:

communicating with a remote User Equipment (UE) via a relay UE using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a dedicated lateral link signaling message for the relay UE, wherein the one or more RRC messages comprise an access stratum configuration for one or more lateral link interface radio bearers between the relay UE and the remote UE; and

receiving, via the relay UE, a communication from the remote UE based at least in part on the access stratum configuration.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers include one or more signaling radio bearers or one or more data radio bearers for an access layer connection between the remote UE and the relay UE.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers are for a lateral link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the access stratum configuration indicates an update to a side link unicast link between the UE and the relay UE.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the access stratum configuration is a ProSe sidelink link configuration transmitted using access stratum signaling.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more RRC messages comprise an RRC reconfiguration message for the remote UE encapsulated in a transparent container, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message is provided to the remote UE in the transparent container in a lateral link interface signaling protocol message for the remote UE or in a lateral link interface access stratum protocol message for the remote UE.

23. A remote User Equipment (UE), comprising:

a memory; and

one or more processors coupled to the memory, the memory and the one or more processors configured to:

communicating with a network entity via a relay UE using one or more Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages encapsulated in a dedicated sidelink signaling message for the relay UE;

receiving, from the network entity via the one or more RRC messages, an access stratum configuration for a side-link unicast link between the remote UE and the relay UE; and

configuring the side link unicast link based at least in part on the received access stratum configuration.

24. The remote UE of claim 23, wherein the dedicated sidelink signaling message is transmitted without sidelink interface security protection.

25. The remote UE of claim 23, wherein the dedicated sidelink signaling message is transmitted with sidelink interface security protection, and wherein the sidelink interface security protection is configured prior to relaying.

26. The remote UE of claim 23, wherein the dedicated sidelink signaling message comprises a message associated with a sidelink signaling protocol (PC5-S) entity or a sidelink radio resource control (PC5-RRC) entity.

27. The remote UE of claim 23, wherein when configuring the side-link unicast link, the one or more processors are configured to:

configuring one or more lateral link interface radio bearers according to the access stratum configuration, wherein the one or more lateral link interface radio bearers include one or more signaling radio bearers or one or more data radio bearers for a unicast access stratum connection between the remote UE and the relay UE.

28. The remote UE of claim 23, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

performing communication via the side link unicast link.

29. The remote UE of claim 28, wherein the communication is a unicast communication.

30. The remote UE of claim 23, wherein the lateral link unicast link is a PC5-RRC connection.

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